Case Studies of Mass Transfer and Star Formation in Galaxy Collisions

Abstract

The amount, timing and ultimate location of mass transfer and induced star formation in galaxy collisions are sensitive functions of orbital and galaxy structural parameters. I discuss the role of detailed case studies and describe the results for two systems, Arp 284 and NGC 2207/IC 2163, that have been studied with both multiwaveband observations, and detailed dynamical models. The models yield the mass transfer and compressional histories of the encounters and the ``probable causes'' or triggers of individual star-forming regions.

6 pgs., 2 figs., for Proceedings of IAU 217, Recycling intergalactic and interstellar matter, eds. P.-A. Duc, J. Brane, and E. Brinks